I fear she may be something of a coquette and too subtle in her refinement. I dare not speak to her, for my wit is dull and the language of to-day confuses me. I am but a good soldier. She generally occupies that box to the right--that empty one. LIGNIÈRE (_as if to leave_). I must go. CHRISTIAN (_holding him_). Remain, please. LIGNIÈRE. I cannot. D'Assoucy expects me at the tavern. One might die of thirst here. WAITING-GIRL (_passing_). Lemonade! LIGNIÈRE. Fie! WAITING-GIRL. Milk! LIGNIÈRE. Ugh! WAITING-GIRL. Wine! LIGNIÈRE. (_to Christian_). (_to waiting-girl_). I'll stay a while. Let me taste your wine. (_Takes a seat near the buffet. Waiting-girl serves wine to him._) SHOUTS IN THE AUDIENCE (_on the entrance of a short, plump and jovial looking man_). Here's Ragueneau! LIGNIÈRE (_to Christian_). The celebrated poulterer and pastry-cook! RAGUENEAU (_in his best pastry-cook clothes, going up to Lignière_). Sir, have you seen Monsieur de Cyrano? LIGNIÈRE (_presenting Ragueneau to Christian_). The caterer of comedians and poets! RAGUENEAU (_bowing low_). Flattered, indeed!.... LIGNIÈRE. Come, come, you Mæcenas! RAGUENEAU. They honour me with their custom .... LIGNIÈRE. But seldom pay. A good poet himself .... RAGUENEAU. They say so. LIGNIÈRE. Enthusiastic for verse! RAGUENEAU. The fact is that for a short poem .... LIGNIÈRE. You willingly give a pie. RAGUENEAU. A small tart only! LIGNIÈRE. Good fellow, he excuses himself!.... And for a triolet did you not give .... RAGUENEAU. Only a few rolls! LIGNIÈRE (_sternly_). Milk-rolls!.... And the stage? You like it? RAGUENEAU. I love it. LIGNIÈRE. And you buy your way in with your cakes. RAGUENEAU. Oh, so few! (_Looking around._) But I am surprised not to see Monsieur de Cyrano! LIGNIÈRE. Why so? RAGUENEAU. Because Montfleury plays! LIGNIÈRE. That talking hogshead? True. To-night he plays Phédon. But what cares Cyrano? RAGUENEAU.